In 1828, the narrow passage between the rocks at this site provoked a violent legal battle between the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal Company and the B&O Railroad over who could have control of the narrow pass.[1] After years of disputes, both companies finally compromised and allowed both canal and railroad to build on the right-of-way through the passage,[1] with a wall between the two to avoid trains scaring the mules that pulled the canal boats.